Explore the Collections

Philadelphia Museum of Art: Handbook of the Collections

The production of glazed pottery was one of the earliest and most developed industries of New Spain, as colonial Mexico was called. The principal center of production was Puebla de los Angeles, south of Mexico City. The technique used to produce Mexican glazed pottery is the same seen in Italian maiolica, French faience, and Dutch Delftware. The "he" inscribed on this jar with handles is perhaps the mark of Damian Hernández, a craftsman of Spanish descent who was inspector for the potters' guild at Puebla in l653. Mexican artists drew from many design traditions--Asian as well as European, since Mexico was on Spain's trade route with China. The freedom Mexican artists exercised is seen at its best in this vase, which juxtaposes a European woman in a chariot, a host of Chinese figures, and humans and animals filled with dots after the Islamic custom for indicating living figures. This vibrant creation unites worlds of art in one object. Dean Walker, from Philadelphia Museum of Art: Handbook of the Collections (1995), p. 56.

* Works in the collection are moved off view for many different reasons. Although gallery locations on the website are updated regularly, there is no guarantee that this object will be on display on the day of your visit.